Supermarkets across Cornwall were left with trolleys full of plastic as people joined together for a mass unwrap event to raise awareness of the problems single-use plastics are causing to the environment.

Organisers said the events went incredibly well and that the action was "engaged and embraced" by communities.

Protesters were invited to simply carry out a normal shop, pay, then move their trolleys to one side and unwrap food and products from plastic wrap. The supermarket staff and management knew about the event and were supporting the action.

It took place on world Earth Day on Sunday (April 22). There was a strong turnout for a series of peaceful protests organised to focus on the issue of plastic pollution.

Morrison's Newquay was among the stores targeted (Image: Adj Brown)

More than 300 members turned out to take part in the mass unwrap and by talking to other customers, many more enthusiastic shoppers joined in on the day.

Shoppers brought along shopping bags, reusable containers, bottles and paper bags to decant their produce into in a bid to show how to reduce plastic use.

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Led by Plastic Free Newquay, other groups involved were Newquay Marine Group, Reduce Plastics in Wadebridge, The Final Straw Campaign, Plastic Free Falmouth, Clean Ocean Sailing and The Seal Sanctuary in Greek with a new group born out of the event - Callington Area Against Plastic Pollution.

Hundreds of people got involved (Image: Adj Brown)

A spokesman for Plastic Free Falmouth said: "It was amazing to have such a positive response. People totally got on board with it. I feel very proud of what we have achieved.

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"Some really exciting news is Sainsbury is seriously considering having a system like this (where people can leave plastics) in place at the store."

Morrisons has already said it was committed to reducing unnecessary packaging and was therefore reviewing its packaging across its stores and identifying ways to reduce throw-away plastic use.

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It is also phasing out plastic straws and is removing the 5p single use plastic bags at the start of June. It offers customers options to refill water bottles for free in store.

Shoppers at Sainsbury Falmouth got involved (Image: Bella Bunce)

Founder of the Plastic Free Newquay community group and coordinator of the Mass Unwrap Collette Beckham said: "I am blown away by the level of support.

"The people of Cornwall have come together with one voice, hundreds of people, to make a clear statement to the supermarkets that the excessive use of plastics that we're currently seeing is simply not acceptable to us any more. We are asking for change.

The supermarkets were all urged to recycle the plastic (Image: Adj Brown)

"An effort that matches the commitment that Cornwall's communities and business are showing day in, day out, cleaning beaches and changing practices. We hope that the supermarkets will take some responsibility and follow Cornwall's lead in this.

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“I think that it is great that we are gathered here with members of the community who are concerned about single use plastics and plastic use in general."

The supermarkets are being urged to reduce plastic use (Image: Adj Brown)

Olly Monk, Newquay councillor and member of Plastic Free Newquay, said: "It is so important that we highlight how we can potentially cut down on their use moving forward into the future it would be great to see all plastics being biodegradable or restricted in use."

At Morrison’s supermarket in Newquay alone a group of 30 shoppers collected 5 bin bags full of avoidable plastics in just 20 minutes of shopping. All supermarkets involved were supportive and happy for the demonstrations to take place, the organisers said.

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Newquay shopper Genevra Fletcher said: “We came along because my kids watched the Blue Planet programme and were really upset with what is happening in the world’s oceans.

"We brought them along today to unwrap all the unnecessary plastic that we could and its just a small start – but it is a start”.

A lot of children helped out (Image: Adj Brown)

Her daughter Issy, 10, said: “We are doing this because the animals in the sea are dying because we are throwing away lots of plastics and not recycling or reusing.”

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“We really want to raise awareness amongst consumers about the damage plastic waste is causing to the environment but also to ask businesses, such as the big supermarkets, to rethink the amount of unnecessary throw away plastic that they wrap their products in nowadays,” said Pat Smith, founder of Final Straw Cornwall campaign.

Leaving all plastic meant decanting juice (Image: Adj Brown)

“Earth Day this year is focusing on plastic pollution, so it makes a great opportunity for us all to get out there and do something practical to demonstrate that we as individuals want to reduce our own plastic waste and encourage others to do the same.

"Final Straw Cornwall has received huge support since its launch in November with more than 400 local businesses signing up to agree to stop the use of single use plastic straws, and to generally reduce their use of other disposable plastic items."